ACE ATTORNEY AU

[enigmaster]

Comments

[agoodname]

[Oswald's stomach gives a lurch at that, and his arms tighten around Edward, holding him close, hand petting down his spine, trying to be soothing, or at least grounding]

[enigmaster]

[It's been a very long time since Edward last cried. After a while, he just... stopped. It just seemed pointless, at some point. It didn't help anything. Now it's just... flowing out of him and he can't stop it. He just holds onto Oswald.]

[agoodname]

[and he'll hold Edward through it, as long as he needs, even as his ankle starts to throb quietly with standing in this position for so long. But he ignores it, just holding him tighter. If this is all he can do, he'll do it to the best of his ability.]

[enigmaster]

[Edward quiets down... after a little bit. He's still crying, but it's not quite the outright sobbing from before.] I'm sorry...

[agoodname]

[and Oswald just...rests his chin on the top of his head] S'nothing to apologize for.

[enigmaster]

I'm kind of falling apart on you... And I broke my promise.

[agoodname]

I don't mind you falling apart on me. [his arms tighten a bit around him] I...I'm glad you trust me enough. With this. [as for that other part, though....]

[enigmaster]

...I'm still sorry, though. I just... It felt like... [...] I don't know. Like it wasn't even really me.

[agoodname]

That sounds...difficult. [he keeps his fingers petting against Edward's upper back, soothing] And scary.

[enigmaster]

[He nods a little.] It was... the same this morning, too. When I was talking to you. I got scared and... and next thing I knew, it's like I couldn't control what I said or did anymore...

[agoodname]

It...sounds like a defense mechanism of some kind? But one that doesn't exactly help you.

[enigmaster]

Kind of seems like it's doing the opposite... ...I don't... know what to do about it...

[agoodname]

...I don't either. But we could do some research. There has to be some information somewhere about it.

[enigmaster]

You think...? [Right now... Right now, Edward just feels lost and scared and uncertain. He doesn't know what to do.]

[agoodname]

Yes. I-I think so. There has to be. [because what other answer is there?]

[enigmaster]

...I hope so. I... I really don't want this to happen. Honest. [He feels awful about it. Maybe not entirely for the reasons he should, but. Even so.]

[agoodname]

....I know. We're going to figure it out, Edward. [because he's not going to accept anything less, at this point. He can't.]

[enigmaster]

[...He just... nods quietly. Alright. If Oswald says so, then... Maybe it will work out. Somehow... Though at the same time a part of him can only think "See, of course you'd ruin this sooner or later".]

[agoodname]

And...even if we can't figure out why, we'll find another way. One way or another, we'll make sure you're safe.

[enigmaster]

...Okay. [He's still quiet. Honestly, he's nervous about starting to cry again if he talks too much.] Thank you...

[agoodname]

Of course. [and he just...keeps holding him. Because he wants to. Because he doesn't know what else to do at this moment, really] ...thank you. For telling me.

[enigmaster]

...Mhm. Sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I was just... scared.

[agoodname]

I...see. [quietly] What were you scared of? [he has an idea but....better to have it confirmed]

[enigmaster]

...I was scared you'd... Um. [...] I don't... um... I don't want you to hate me... [That's very quiet. Like he's scared to even say it. And it isn't as if he thinks Oswald is that kind of person, really he doesn't, just. Past experience, you know.]

[agoodname]

[Oswald swallows, hard, at that. That's about what he expected] I...I wouldn't. I couldn't, Edward.